Nipper mechanism for a combing machine



Dec. 4, 1962 w. NAEGELI NIPPER MECHANISM FOR A COMBING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 28, 1958 IN VEN TOR.

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A TTOl-PNEX Dec. 4, 1962 w. NAEGELI NIPPER MECHANISM FOR A COMBING MACHINE Filed May 28, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. WEE/VE/P /\/4 E654 A 7'7'ORNEK Dec. 4, 1962 w. NAEGELI NIPPER MECHANISM FOR A COMBING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 28, 195B I N V EN TOR. WERNER Nq EGEL A 1962 w. NAEGELI NIPPER. MECHANISM FOR A con/name MACHINE Filed May 28, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN T OR WEENEI'? A/AE'GEL BY ATTO/F/VFK United States Patent Ofifice 3,656,360 Patented Dec. 4, 1962 NHFPER MECHANISM FOR A COMBING MACHINE Werner Naegeii, Winterthur, Switzerland, assignor to Joh- Jacob Rieter 8: Co. Ltd, Winterthur, Switzerland, a

corporation of Switzerland Filed May 28, 1958, Ser. No. 738,565 Claims priority, application Switzerland June 1, 1957 17 Claims. (Cl. 19-227) The present invention relates to a combining machine of the Nasmith type for combing textile fibres, more particlarly to a novel nipper mechanism for such a machine.

In the conventional Nasmith combers the tuft is carried by the closed nippers along the periphery of the circular comb either equidistantly from said periphery or at a diminishing distance from the periphery or at a diminishing and subsequently equal distance from the periphery. Combing machines are also known in which the tuft is carried by the closed nippers on a path which is convexly curved towards the periphery of the circular comb. In other conventional combing machines the tuft is guided on a straight path which is tangential of the periphery of the comb. With the first of the last two arrangements the tuft is insufliciently combed on the side which is remote with respect to the comb. With the second of the last two arrangements the finer needles of the comb are frequently damaged because the finer needles must enter a zone of the tuft which has not been previously thoroughly combed by the stronger needles. A path of the tuft which is concentric of the circular comb is unsatisfactory because the depth of penetration into the tuft of the coarse needles is the same as that of the subsequent finer needles so that the combing effect of the finer needles is unsatisfactory. It is obvious that a path of the tuft which is tangential of or cylindrically convexly curved towards the circular comb cannot produce a good combing effect. All conventional mechanisms are mechanically very complicated so that not only manufacture and assembly but also maintenance is diflicult.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a nipper mechanism for a combing machine which avoids the aforedescribed disadvantages of conventional mechanisms. In the mechanism according to the invention the point where the tuft leaves the closed nippers is guided to gradually approach the periphery of the circular comb and to thereupon gradually recede from said periphery whereby the centers of the curvatures of the path of the tuft are within the periphery circle of the comb.

In the nipper mechanism according to the inventionl which mechanism produces the aforedescribed desired path of the nipping point of the nippers, the portions of the ends of the bottom nipper which portions are in the neighborhood of the forward edge of the bottom nipper are individually pivotally connected to and supported from below by an arm which is swingable on a shaft which is mounted on the frame of the combing machine. The aforesaid arm is preferably swingably connected to the circular comb shaft of the machine so that the desired effect is conveniently produced and no additional shaft and bearings are needed. The bottom nipper is oscillated by means of a crank pivotally connected to the rear of the bottom nipper and fast on an oscillating drive shaft which is mounted on the machine frame. Arms are mounted on the ends of the top nipper which arms are individually hingedly connected to the bottom nipper. Each armhas a rearward extension which is pivotally connected with one end of a link element whose other end is swingably connected to a stationary shaft, preferably with the aforesaid oscillating drive shaft.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a nipper mechanism whose nippers can be sufiiciently widely opened for cleaning purposes and to provide access to the feed roller without the necessity of disconnecting parts by hand or by means of tools. To accomplish this the top nipper can be opened beyond the maximum opening during the idle stroke of the nippers by pressing the pivot connections of the rearward extensions of the lateral support arms of the top nipper through a labile dead center position against an abutment; to permit this movement the link elements supporting the lateral arms of the top nipper are composed of two axially aligned resiliently interconnected portions whose resilient connections are compressed when said pivot connections are forced through the labile dead center position.

The novel features which are considered characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, and additional objects and advantages thereof will best be understood from the following description of embodiments thereof when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective diagrammatic illustration of a nipper mechanism according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of the kinematics of the mechanism shown in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the nipper mechanism according to the invention in cross section in two different operating positions, the section being made along line lil-lll in FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of two juxta-positioned nipper mechanisms according to the invention whereby the top nipper of the opened position.

Referring more particularly to the drawing,

3 esignates a bottom nipper whose ends are inserted in right mechanism is shown in fully an arm or crank 9 which is fast on an oscillating shaft nippers 3, 3' are pivotally 26 extending through the support elements 5 and 6.

drive head, oscillating the shaft 10 and arranged at one end of the comber.

Kinematically, the system described above is known as a four joint movement or mechanism. It is kinematically illustrated in a plane in FIG. 2 and has four hinges K, E, A, B, an arm 5', an arm 9, and a link 3 formed by the bottom nipper. If the mechanism is oscillated, the point C at the forward edge of the nipper 3' describes a curve D, mathematically called a curve of the sixth order. Depending on the lengths of the arms 5' and 9 and the distance between their swing axes the from said periphery at F and gradually receding from the periphery of the comb until point C reaches the rear dead center position G whereby the curvature of the curve D is in the same sense as that of the circular periphery of the comb and the centers of the circles of which the are greater than the radius R of the circular periphery of the comb. The deviation of the curve from a circle extending through point F and concentric of the circle K is very small. This is obvious when inspecting FIG. 2, where the point C is very little beyond the line I: A within the operating range of the comb segment. In this way the combing requirements set forth at the beginning of this specification are well satisfied and a hitherto not available simplicity of the support of the bottom nipper is obtained with a minimum of swinging masses.

The most suitable distances in the four joint mechanism are obtained by making the arm (K A) shorter than the arm 9 (I B) and by making the distance between the centers of the oscillation K fi greater than the distance between the joints A and B on the bottom nipper 3 so that the straight lines A A and 13 meet at a point which is above the line connecting K and I; i.e., at the side of this line where the curve D is located.

Besides obtaining, in this way, the desired curve D another very desirable advantage with respect to the combing operation is attained: The nipper mechanism arrives at the most forward position B (FIG. 2) during the detaching period and the extension of the path of the lap material on the bottom nipper form with the line V connecting the nip of the detaching rollers Z with the forward upper edge 0 of the nipper an angle a so that the nip of the rollers Z is at a lower elevation than the lap on the lap supporting surface of the bottom nipper and the fibrous material is pulled by the detaching rollers Z over the edge 0 and is subjected to an additional gripping action. At great setting distances between the top comb and the detaching rollers as they are used for long staple material this additional guide is very desirable. If the setting distance between the top comb and the detaching rollers is relatively small as for short staple material is the case, the angle on and the additional gripping action are smaller and become zero at the shortest distance when an additional guidance can readilier be dispensed with. The setting distances between the detaching rolls and the top comb are determined by the angular position of the drive shaft 10 relative to the driving mechanism in the driving head of the combing machine. By loosening the bolts tightening the cranks 9 to the shaft 10 the setting distance of the individual nipper mechanisms can be changed.

The arms Hand 12 connected to the lateral ends of the mp nipper 13 are shell-like, have an inverted U-shaped efoss sectional configuration and are pivoted to the support plates 1 and Z of the respective bottom nipper by means of pins 14 and 15. Link elements 18 and 19 freely swingably supported by the drive shaft 10 are pivoted to the rear ends 16, 17 of the arms 11, 12, respectively. The shells forming the arms 11 and 12 have a vertical portion which terminates, through a rounded portion, in 'a portion which is normal to the vertical portion. The arm 11 is symmetric to and forms a mirror image of the arm 12. The opposed arms 11 and 12 of longitudinally aligned top nippers are so close together as to form a cover for the parts of the mechanism located below the arms. Each of the link elements 18 and 19 comprises a housing 2% containing a spring 22 which acts on a plunger 21 extending into and being axially guided by the hcssing 20 (FIG. 1). Since the arms 11 and 12 move rearwardly together with the bottom nipper 3 for some time after closing of the nippers and until the oscillation of the drive shaft 10 is reversed, the plunger 21 moves into the spring housing 2.1 compressing the spring 22.

The aforedescribed top nipper mechanism affords opening of the top nipper 13, baring the bottom nipper 3 and the feed roller 23, not shown in FIG. 1, which rests in recesses 24 provided in the side plates 1 and 2 of the bottom nipper. Opening of the top nipper is effected against the action of the springs 22 past a labile dead center position until the mechanism assumes the position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1 in which position an abutment 25 connected with the plunger 21 prevents clockwise rotation of the top nipper 13.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FZGS. 3, 4 and 5 the aforsaid abutment is formed by a portion 27 of the arms 11 and 12 between the prongs formed at the rear end of the arms which portion 27 abuts against the rod of the plunger 21 when the top nipper is opened for cleaning purposes and for providing access to the feed roller 23.

I claim:

1. A nipper mechanism for a comber of the oscillating nipper type for combing a lap, comprising a bottom nipper, a top nipper hinged to said bottom nipper, a comb segment, a comb shaft carrying said comb segment, support means swingably connected to said comb shaft and pivotally connected to said bottom nipper for movably supporting the latter on the former, an oscillating shaft, actuating means movably interconnecting said bottom nipper and said oscillating shaft for actuating said bottom nipper by said oscillating shaft, and link means movably interconnecting said top nipper and said oscillating shaft, said actuating means and said support means forming guide means guiding the nipping edge of said bottom nipper along a path which gradually approaches and subsequently recedes from the periphery of the comb segment during each combing operation.

2. A nipper mechanism as defined in claim 1 in which said support means are in the form of an arm having an end rockable on said comb shaft and having a free end pivotally connected to said bottom nipper.

3. A nipper mechanism according to claim 2 in which said actuating means include a crank rigidly connected with said oscillating shaft and having a free end pivotally 1 connected to said bottom nipper.

4. A nipper mechanism according to claim 3 in which said link means include an element swingable on said oscillating shaft, a link member having an end pivotally connected to said top nipper, and resilient means interposed between said element and said link member and being compressed when the nippers are closed.

5. A nipper mechanism according to claim 3 in which said arm forming said support means is shorter than said crank of said actuating means.

6. A nipper mechanism according to claim 3 in which the center lines of said arm and of said crank, when extended beyond the free ends of said arm and of said crank, intersect during the combing operation.

7. A nipper mechanism according to claim 3 wherein said bottom nipper has a lap supporting surface, the mechanism including a pair of detaching rollers, the nip of said detaching rollers being at a lower elevation than the lap on the lap-supporting surface of said bottom nipper whereby the lap passing over the bottom nipper during the doffing period is pressed against the bottom nipper.

8. A nipper mechanism according to claim 3 in which said link means have an end portion swingable on said oscillating shaft and have a free end portion pivotally connected to said top nipper.

9. A nipper mechanism according to claim 8 in which said top nipper includes a support arm extending at a right angle to and having an end which is distant of the nipping edge, said support arm being pivotally connected to said bottom nipper, said free end portion of said link means being pivoted to the end of said support arm which is distant of the nipping edge.

10. A nipper mechanism according to claim 9 in which said support arm has an inverted U-shaped cross sectional configuration.

11. A nipper mechanism for a comber, comprising a plurality of juxta-positioned individual bottom nippers, a plurality of juxta-positioned top nippers individually pivotally connected to said bottom nippers, a shaft, a plurality of support means swingably connected to said shaft, each of said support means being pivotally connected to two of said juxta-positioned bottom nippers for in terconnect ing said two juxta-positioned bottom nippers, an oscillatlng shaft, actuating means movably interconnectmg said bottom nippers and said oscillating shaft for said top nippers relative to the movement of the bottom mppers, said top nippers individually including lateral top nipper including support arms extending normal to the nipping edge and being pivotally connected to said bottom nipper, link means including a rocking arm swingable on said oscillating shaft,

t an angle to the support arm to which said rod is pivotally connected and bottom nipper, a top nipper hinged to said bottom nipper, a circular comb operatively associated with said oscillating shaft for actuating said oscillating shaft, and links means movably interconnecting said top nipper and said said actuating means and said support means forming guide means for guiding the nipping point of the closed nippers when the nipping point is nearest to the circular comb segment along a line gradually approaching and subse quently gradually receding from the circular periphery of the comb segment during each circular combing operation.

16. A nipper mechanism in a comber frame comprising a bottom nipper, a top nipper hinged to said bottom nipper for closing and opening, a rotating circular comb segment, support means swingable on a stationary fulcrum and movably connected to said bottom nipper for movably supporting the latter on the former, an oscillating shaft mounted in the comber frame, actuating means movably interconnecting said bottom nipper and said oscillating shaft for oscillating said bottom nipper by said oscillating shaft, and link means movably interconnecting said top nipper and said oscillating shaft for controlling the movement of said top nipper relative to the movement of said bottom nipper, said actuating means and said support means forming guide means for guiding the nipping point of the closed nippers when the nipping point is nearest to the comb segment along a line gradually approaching and subsequently receding from the circular periphery of the comb segment during each circular combing operation.

17. A nipper mechanism for a comber comprising rocking nippers including a bottom nipper element having a nipping edge and a rear portion, a comb segment, a shaft supporting said comb segment, said nipping edge being adjacent to the periphery of said comb segment, a link having one end swingable on said shaft and having said bottom nipper element in the proximity of and above said nipping edge, an oscillating shaft parallel with said shaft supporting said comb segment, and an arm rigidly connected to and extending radially from said oscillating shaft, said arm having a free end pivotally connected to the rear portion of said bottom nipper element for rocking said nipper element between an extreme forward and an extreme rearward position, the pivot connections of said link and of said arm with said bottom nipper element being closer together than the longitudinal axes of said shafts, the

position and being forward of said nipping edge when said bottom nipper element is in the extreme rearward position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

